Shade expectations
Israel has reportedly killed nearly a thousand people in Gaza since the so-called ceasefire in October. / Proximities
Netanyahu typically reserves his overt defiance for American leaders that “he wishes to humiliate and marginalize.” / Forever Wars
Israel captures Beaufort, a Crusader-built castle and UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Lebanon. / The Associated Press
“Every invading army since the Crusades has seized, held, and lost Beaufort.” / New Lines
Meanwhile, President Trump has said a deal with Iran is around the corner approximately 38 times, and the Dept. of Defense says Mormons aren’t Christians. / CNN, Vox [$]
Unrelated: Beach communities are up in arms over Shibumis, controversial shade devices that reportedly lead to “conflicts over territory.” / The Wall Street Journal [$]
Regarding “gray zone tactics” and why conflict feels constant now: “Our exit options remain surprisingly plentiful.” / Noema
A former child patient of psychoanalyst Melanie Klein, having no idea she wrote a book about him, recalls what it was like to be in treatment. “It was very much a strong interest in genitalia.” / Granta
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Brazil holds the world’s second-largest rare-earth reserves after China, making it a focal point in the struggle over critical minerals. / The Wall Street Journal [$]
Ted Chiang says if you want to think about LLMs, “you can safely ignore the question of their being conscious.” / The Atlantic [$]
See also: When everything runs on artificial intelligence, hardware needs go up, making cheap smartphones no longer viable. / David Oks
Despite holding a visa, a Somali referee set to work the World Cup is sent back after arriving in Miami (Somalia is on Trump’s “travel ban” list). / France24
Of the 48 nations in the tournament, fans from Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Iran, and Senegal are all subject to the ban. / American Immigration Council
Condé Nast sues the group of food journalists who revived Gourmet as a worker-owned collective. / Semafor
Scientists bake sourdough bread from yeast found in the guts of Europe’s oldest-known natural mummy. / The Guardian, Reuters
Did you know? Even sterilized soil persists in being alive. / Quanta
How to order lunch according to Richard Feynman. / Futility Closet